Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are severe, life-long neurodevelopmental disorders that confer considerable impairment to individuals as well as a substantial burden to their families. Little is known about the prevalence or correlates of ASDs. Little high quality information is available regarding the phenotypic variation among individuals with ASDs, prevalence of co-morbid conditions, and risk factors that might be related to the development of ASDs. The Centers for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology were established in 2001 to investigate causes and correlates of autism. The focus of this second funding cycle is to conduct a multi-site collaborative epidemiologic study to investigate risk and causal factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and phenotypic subgroups of ASDs using a population-based case-cohort study design. Six sites (California, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Georgia) will collaborate to enroll 2700 children and their families over the 5-year study period. Each site will include approximately 150 children with ASD, 150 with other neurodevelopmental disorders, and 150 general population controls to address specific hypotheses in six broad domains: 1) phenotypic variation in ASD, including the pattern of clustering of core symptoms, timing of onset, cognitive status, and presence of medical and psychiatric co- morbidities;2) gastrointestinal features that may be associated with ASD, 3) candidate genes and genetic variation among individuals with ASD. and how they interact with environmental risk factors, 4) potential for parental infection, immune function, and autoimmunity to be associated with increased ASD risk, 5) potential for parental hormonal and reproductive characteristics to be associated with increased ASD risk, and 6) potential for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors to be associated with increased ASD risk. To address these goals, this study will conduct developmental assessments on the children and collect extensive data on the pre- and perinatal health and environment of the children and their parents via interviews, medical record review, and the collection of biologic samples. This large study of ASD will improve our understanding of how autism differs phenotypically from other disabilities and from typical development. It will also help identify potential risk factors for autism that deserve more attention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NCBDD)
Type
Cooperative Clinical Research--Cooperative Agreements (U10)
Project #
5U10DD000184-04
Application #
7681118
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCD1-ZDQ (07))
Program Officer
Brown, Michael
Project Start
2006-09-30
Project End
2011-06-29
Budget Start
2009-06-30
Budget End
2010-06-29
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$1,209,900
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Biostatistics & Other Math Sci
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Singer, Alison B; Daniele Fallin, M; Burstyn, Igor (2018) Bayesian Correction for Exposure Misclassification and Evolution of Evidence in Two Studies of the Association Between Maternal Occupational Exposure to Asthmagens and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr Environ Health Rep 5:338-350
DiGuiseppi, Carolyn; Levy, Susan E; Sabourin, Katherine R et al. (2018) Injuries in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Study to Explore Early Development (SEED). J Autism Dev Disord 48:461-472
Rosenberg, Steven A; Moody, Eric J; Lee, Li-Ching et al. (2018) Influence of family demographic factors on social communication questionnaire scores. Autism Res 11:695-706
Felix, Janine F; Joubert, Bonnie R; Baccarelli, Andrea A et al. (2018) Cohort Profile: Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) Consortium. Int J Epidemiol 47:22-23u
Rubenstein, Eric; Wiggins, Lisa D; Schieve, Laura A et al. (2018) Associations between parental broader autism phenotype and child autism spectrum disorder phenotype in the Study to Explore Early Development. Autism :1362361317753563
Soke, Gnakub Norbert; Rosenberg, Steven A; Rosenberg, Cordelia Robinson et al. (2018) Self-injurious behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development. Autism 22:625-635
Schieve, Laura A; Tian, Lin; Dowling, Nicole et al. (2018) Associations Between the 2nd to 4th Digit Ratio and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Population-Based Samples of Boys and Girls: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development. J Autism Dev Disord 48:2379-2395
Rubenstein, Eric; Schieve, Laura; Bradley, Chyrise et al. (2018) The prevalence of gluten free diet use among preschool children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 11:185-193
Moody, Eric J; Reyes, Nuri; Ledbetter, Caroline et al. (2017) Screening for Autism with the SRS and SCQ: Variations across Demographic, Developmental and Behavioral Factors in Preschool Children. J Autism Dev Disord 47:3550-3561
Singer, Alison B; Aylsworth, Arthur S; Cordero, Christina et al. (2017) Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in Relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED). Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 31:573-582

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